Insect-catcher.



L. PATTON.

NSECT CATCHER.

APPLICATION msn APR. la. um;A

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L. PAT'TON.

INSECTCATCHER.

APPLICATION man APR. 1a. |918.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lllluull'll' L. PATTUIL INSEC'T CATCHER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I8. ISIS,

1 ,289,250. Patented Deo. 31, 1918.

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. 60 I v I 60 III B 65 A B 6;, a/I III @mvg/nto@ d af/ffpfUv/V INSECT-CATCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 315, 1918.

Application filed April 18, 1918. Serial No. 229,385.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, LUTHER PATTON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at West Blocton7 in the county of Bibb and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Insect-Catchers, of which the following is a ing and insectdislodging devices and in this respect my present invention constitutes an improvement on the Letters Patent No. 1,256,036, issued to me jointly with H. B. lVallace, and No. 1,241,012, issued to Samuel J. Patton. The novel features of this phase of my invention relate to the spring rigging for holding the beater arms yieldingly in operating position and which is adapted to fold in against the frame when the beater arms are moved into'inoperative position alongside of and parallel with the frame. The beater mechanism is designed not to interfere with the vert-ical adjustment of the insect catching pans.

A further object of my invention is to improve the construction of the folding pans and more particularly of their adjacent plant engaging portions which are preferably formed of a yielding material which will preserve its shape and yet give in all directions when engaged by the plants to avoid injuring them.

A further object of my invention is to yieldingly mount the insect catching pans on the frame so as to permit the rear ends of the pans to be freely adjusted to diderent heights while.l maintaining their proper spacing throughout these adjustments by vieldable frame. supported devices which normally hold the pans in predetermined relative positions but permit them to swing apart.

My invention also comprises the various other details of construction and arrange- .'.ments of parts which' are hereinafter pointed out in the claims and more particularly described in the specification by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate only the preferred embodiment of my invention, and in which Figure 1 is a plan View of my apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one of the pans shown in transverse cross section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail plan View taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. l

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View showing one of the bracket bearings and a shaker bar adapted for mounting therein.

Fig. 6 isan enlarged front elevation of one side of the frame showing the pan folded up.

Fig. 7 is a partial plan view of the yieldable section of the trough. y

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the outer portion and hinge joint of the an.

Flg. 9 is a partial vertical sectional view of the rubber portion of the tray taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 7

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

My apparatus comprises an inverted U- shaped structural metal frame 1 having attached by bolts or rivets along its fiat top surface a bar 2 which overhangs substantially to the right side of the frame, see Fig. 1. Bars 3 and 4 are rigidly'attached to this bar 2, one at its right end and the other over the center of the frame. The front ends of the bars 3 and 4 form shafts 5 and atan intermediate point they are braced together by a cross bar 6. A whiilie tree 9 is connected to a suitable equalizing draft rigging connected to the bar 2, the details of which are not described as the saine forms no part of myvpresent invention. 'The shaft bar 4 is braced to the far side of the frame 1 by means of an outwardly and downwardly curved bar 15 having its upper end attached to the bar 4 near the cross bar 6 from which point it extends at right angles to av point practically in line with 'the left hand side of the frame` and is then bent downwardly and its lower end riveted to the side of the frame 2 opposite the stub aXle 16 upon which the left hand wheel 17 is journaled. A similar wheel 17 is journaled on the other side of the frame and a drivers seat 18 is secured by bolts passing through the center ot' the top member of the frame l and the bar 2.

The mechanism for dislodging the insects from the plants lcomprises a series-of beaters 19 preferably formed by wooden barshaw ing at their outer ends a bearing plate 2O with a hole 21 therein alining with a pivot hole through fthe bar. Thev forward edge of each plate 20 is provided with a stop shoulder 22 to arrest the forward movement of the bar when it reaches a ypoint at right angles to the frame. Each bar is pivotally mounted to swing horizontally on a bearing bracket suchas 23 whichisriveted to the inside walls of the frame sides. The' upperl and lower bearing brackets are provided with a lateral extension 24 having an over turned bearing lug 25 .perforated lat 2G to receive the upper-end of a spring` bar 27. This bar; 27 has a straight vertical body portion with its` upper and lower ends bent at right angles thereto and'npturned so as to be received in the` bea-ring lugs 25 and supported thereby to swing horizontally about avertical aXis. VThe upper end of this spring bar extends up through the top of the frame and is provided with a handle 28 by meansV of ywhichitcan 'beV turned by the driver. A. spring latch 29 is` mounted on the frame 1 preferably by bolts holding one of the intermediate bearing brackets23 and the forward end of this latch is bent at right angles and provided with `a detent 30 adapted to. engage and hold the spring bar 27. To each of the shaker bars 19 is lattached a coil yspring 31, which at its other Yend is made f'ast'tol the spring bar 27 which thus controls all of the springs which normally holdthe severalfshaker bars on their respective side of the apparatus in operative posit-ion. When the spring bar is released clear obstructions.

from the detent 30, it is free to swing to dotted position, Fig. 4, in doing which it releases the tension on the springs 31 andV permits the bars 19 to swing back against and parallel with the frame 1.l The stops 22' prevent theV springs drawing the shaker bars forwardly beyond a. position at rightv angles to the line of movement. By grasping the handle 28 the spring bar can be .jerk-ed from the detent 30 or can be forced back into engagement therewith.

All ofthe three lower shaker bars on each side ofthe frame are providedwitha hinge the outer end carrying a-stop member 33 which lprevents the bars droppingbelow a horizontal position.'r The necessity for this arrangement arises from the use of pans which will be Vlater described and which are intended to be swung upwardly so as to If the bars were not free'to yield, as shown in Fig. 6, these pans couldy not be swung upwardly.

the forward ends of short 'bars 35 which are connected rigidly to the frame sides by rivets 36 and which have their rear ends bent outwardly away from the center line of the apparatus. The rear end ofV each pan is supported by a chain 37 connected to a hook 38 on bar 73 at one end and at the other end connected to a-hook by 39 adjustable means of a nut 40 ona bol-t 41'having a flattened end 42 made fast near the top of the'frame side. The rear `end of each outwardly bent plate 35 has rigidly attached thereto a U-shaped bracket 43 disposed substantially vertically and having its top and bottom members longitudinally slotted to receive the pins 44 provided at the ends of-aI bearing bar 45 which is |pressed outwardly by coil springs ,46 interposed between it and the .back of the yoke frame. These springs normally press the bar outwardly untilits pins engage the outer end walls of the slots. The outside edgev of the trays near an intermediate point will `bear against their respective bars 45 which. will yieldinglyresist ythe separating movements of the pans. pans to the frame is loose enough to provide the horizontal and vertical play necessary to permit the pans to be adjusted vertically and to yield freely laterally.

The pans are especially designed to protect the plants from injury and each comprises an outer metallic body portion 47 which has an upturned side flange 48and end flanges 49. The flange 4.8 is riveted t0 one member 50 of a leaf hinge, thev other member 5l of which is riveted to the adjacent bar 73 and carries a hinge pin disposed substantially at the top ofthe pan flange 48. The hinge member 50'is elongated and its The pivotal attachment of the end 52 is bent under and secured vto the bot- Vtom of the pan portion 47. The end walls `49 of this outside .is inclined downwardly and provided with eyes to rece-ive a longitudinal hinge pin 54 by means of which a hinge strip 55similar to 53, is pivotally connectedfto the latter angle so as to slopev strip. The inside pan portion 56 is bolted l in position between the strip 55 and a bar 57 and is formed of flexibler material preferplant engaging side flange 58 along its inner edge and joining end flanges 59 which slopeably of rubber molded to have an upturned w portion. .A bellows strip 60 of any suitable material is connected to the adjacent end edges of the flanges 49, 59 and hinge strips 53 and 55, thus closing the ends of the pan while leaving the inner pan portion 56 free to swing upwardly on the hinge V54. The rubber pan portion 56 is moldedv with a seriesof pockets 61 therein extending from its outer side edge through the bottom and upwardly to the point near the top of its ilange 58 and into these pockets are inserted coil springs 62 which are especially shaped 'to conform to the shape of the pockets and thus aid in preserving the shape of the pan portion while leaving it free to yield in all directions.

The pan `portion 56 is prevented from dropping below a horizontal position by" means of chains 63 connected at one end to the outside pan portion 47 and at the other end to the portion 56. The arrangement of.

the hinge 54 below the bottom level of the pan increases the effectiveness of these chain supports. Preferably they can connect the upper adjacent edges of the flanges 49 and 59 extending, if desired, through and reinforcing the top of the flexible filler strip 60. In order to swing the pans upwardly out of operating position, as shown in Fig. 6, I provide operating chains 64 each connected to -a pan portion 47 and passing upwardly at an angle about a pulley 65 journaled on a bracket 66 overhung rearwardly from the frame side. The chains pass from the pulleys upwardly to levers 67 mounted on the top of the frame and are provided each with a grip latch 68 engaging a quadrant rack 69. By means of these levers the pans can be quickly raised by the driver so as to avoid injury from stumps, rocks and the ike. f-

As the lower shaker bars might be inclined rearwardly when the pans are swungv or yield upwardly and in such position the bar might catch on the flange 59 and arrest the upward movement of the pan, I have arranged a guard 70 which is bolted to the upper bar 57 and is so shaped as to catch the lower shaker bars at their various angular positions rearwardly and to ride them over the flange 58 as the latter movesupwardly. The elevation of the pans can be easily controlled by the adjustment of the chains 64.

To support the rear outer edge of the pan portion 56 I provide an upright 7l at the rear end of the bar 7 3 and from the end of this upright a chain 72 leads downwardly to and serves to support the weight of the pan while at the same time leaving it free to yield-and swing upwardly. Y

In operation. the apparatus is driven through the field with the pans working on each side of the plants of a row and as it passes over the plants the shaker bars yieldk ingly engage and shake the plant limbs dis.

lodging the insects which :tall therefrom into the pans from which they are collected in any suitable manner and destroyed by being burned or otherwise disposed of. The pans are free to yield laterally against their supports 45 and to yield upwardly on their hinge connections 54 and 51, and in addition thereto the plant engaging portion of the pan is itself exible. I thus obtain the maximum flexibility and adjustability for the pans so that they can work very closely together under the plant limbs without injury to the plants.

This invention is not intended to be restricted in scope to the specific embodiment shown, but contemplates such modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the claims.

.Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire -to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In an insect catchin apparatus, an arched frame having wheeI supports on its sides, plant shaking means, rearwardly and outwardly inclined bottom members connected to the frame sides, an inturned yieldable element supported by said memberspans loosely connected to the bottom 0f the frame, and flexible means to support the rear ends of the pans in engagement with said yieldable elements which are adapted to permit the pans to give laterally, substantially as described.

2. In an insect catching` apparatus, an arched frame having wheel supports on its sides, plant shaking means, rearwardly and outwardly inclined bottom members rigidly connected to said frame sides, an inturned yieldable element supported by the rear ends of said members, pans loosely connected to the bottom of the frame, flexible means to support the rear ends of the pans in engagement with said yieldable elements which are adapted to permit the pans to give laterally, and means to adjust vertically the rear ends of the pans.V

3. In an insect catching apparatus, an arched frame, wheel supports therefor,

llO

plant shaking means, pans pivotally mountf ed on the frame free to have a vertically and a limited lateral play, rearward extensions 0n the frame, spring means carried vfrom the frame to the rear end of each pan.

hinge means to permit the pans to fold bodily upwardly, and mechanism to raise swing on itshinges. l 9. In an insect catching apparatus, a.

. stantially as described.

and lower the pans on their hinges, substantially as described. y Y

In an insectcatcher, an arche'dfiame,

an Voutwardly flaring rearwardly extending bar riveted t0 each side of the trame, a bar loosely pivoted to each outwardly flaring bar and disposed on its inner side, a pan hinged to each of said latter bars, means mounted on the frame to raise andlower the pan, and yielding means interposed between and adapted to spacel theiear ends of the connected pairs of bars, substan tially as described. A i.

6. In an insect vcatching apparatus, an arched frame, plant shaking devices carried thereby, insect catching pans hung from the pan being divided longitudinally into in-l side and outside portions hingedtogether, the inside pan portion being formed et yielding material.

8, In an insect catching appara-tus, a frame, insect dislodging means, pans to catch the dislodged insects, each pan comprising an outside longitudinal metallic portion and an inside londitudinal flexible portion, a hinge connection for said portions, and supporting means for the pan portions which leave the flexible portion t0 yield and frame, insect dislodging means carried thereby, pans to catch the dislodged insects, each Vpan comprising a. longitudinal Voutsidemetallic member, a longitudinal inside liexible member forming part of the pan bottom and having a marginal iiange forming the plant engaging edge of the pan, and means to support said yielding member free to yield, sublO'. In an insect catching apparatus,a pan having the longitudinal portion thereof comprising a substantialpart ot its bottom` and its plant engaging edge formed of` r molded rubber, and reinforcing coil springs embedded in said rubber. e l1. In an insect catching apparatus, a pan having a. longitudinal portion thereof com prising a substantial port-ion ot its bottomk and its plant engaging edge formed of molded rubber, and reinforcing coil springs einbedded in said'rubber, f sa-id springs being 'shaped to extend crosswise. through the bot-v tomandf up into the plant engagingedge. 12@ Iman, insect i destrerns .errar-@1111s, a 'pan havi'nga longitudinal portion thereof atapi-ang' a garantia patas of as' as tomand its plant engaging edge formed;

of molded rubber having transverse pockets therein extending from its outer edge across its bottom portion and upwardly into the plant engaging edge, and coil springs seated in said pockets' having a bend therein to confornito the cross' section of thel pans. Y

V13. In an' insect catChing'fapparatus, means to dislodge the insects, means to .catch i the dislodged insects comprising afpan di-' vided longitudinally into inner and outerv poitions, means to hinge the portions yto'- getheninarginal flanges about theportions which atxtheir ends slope downwardly to the hinge joint, and a flexible strip connecting. Sad sapins fange edges Aand :elsing the space between them', substantially as de'-V Srbdf 14,' In an insect-catchingfapparatus a frame, plant shaking bars hinged thereto, a coil spring'o'onnectedto'each bar, and a swinging spring frame to. which vsaid springs are connected andwhich isniovable' to permit the shaker bars to fold rearwardly against the `frame..

1 5. Iny an insect catching apparatus, a' frame, plant shaking bars hinged thereto, a c oil spring connectedto cach bar, a swingy Y ing spring frame Vto which said springs are connected and which 4is movable to permit the shaker bars to fold rearwardly against the frame, and latch mea-ns to hold the swinging frame in its forward operating position.

16. In an insect catching apparatus,.a trame, plant shaking barshinged thereto, a coil spring connected Lto each bar, a swinging spring frameV to which said ksprings are connected and which is movable to permit-V the shaker bars to fold rearwardly against the frame, and latch' means to hold the swinging frame ink operating position, said.

frameV carrying crank means by which may be jerkedinto and out. of engagement with said latchmeans.

17. In an insectcatching apparatus, an

arched frame, a series of shaker bars hinged to each side thereof, stop means to limit the forward swing of said bars, springs connected to said bars, a crank shaped Vswing-A ing member pivotally mounted on each sidev of said frame Vand connected to the springs ofradjacent bars, and latch means to hold said members yin their forward operating position, said members when releasedbeing adapted to engage and` swing rearwardly with said bars, as scribed. Y. Y Y f 1S. In an insect :catching machine, 1[a

and for the purposesdeframe, Vhorizontally swinging 4shaker ,bars 1 mounted y thereon, pans hinged to the1 `frame below.. the bars .and adapted, te. .Swing ,il'pyield upwardly when engaged by the pan,

guards on the pans to prevent the bars engaging the free upturned edges of the pans and blocking the upward swing of the latter, and means to swing the pans upwardly, substantially as described.

19. In an insect catching apparatus, a frame formed of a single arched member having insect dislodging means, pans loosely pivoted near the lower ends of said frame, exible connections from the upper portion of the frame to adjust the elevation of the rear ends of the pans, and yieldable means to resist the separation of the rear ends of the pans, substantially as described.

20. In an insect catching apparatus, a frame formed of a single arched member having insect dislodging means, pans loosely supported near the lower ends of said frame, flexible connections from the upper portion of the frame to adjust the elevation of the rear ends of the pans, and yieldable vmeans to resist-the separation of the rear ends of the pans, said yieldable means being vertically elongated to maintain contact with the rear ends of the pans throughout their normal vertical adjustments.

21. In an insect catching apparatus, a. frame formed of a single arch member hav ing external wheel supports, internal plant shaking means, pans loosely mounted at the bottom of the frame, flexible supports inclined rearwardly from the frame to ad justably support the rear ends of the pans, yieldable means to resist outward lateral movements of the rear ends of the pans, said means for each pan comprising a support rigid with the frame, a vertically elongated bearing member adapted to engage the pans throughout their vertical adjustments and mounted free for lateral movements in said support, and spring means to resist such lateral movements outwardly of the bearing member, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LUTHER PATTON.

Witness: f

W. H. LOGAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each',l by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

